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Blackburn school changes holidays for pupils' trips abroad

A BLACKBURN school is changing its holidays to allow pupils to go abroad in October.

The two-week autumn break plan at Wensley Fold Primary School comes shortly after the government announced more freedom for headteachers to set term dates.

In a letter, parents of pupils at the Church of England academy were told the changes were being made following many parental requests to visit relatives abroad.

Starting this year, the Manor Road school will close for a fortnight in October, instead of the usual one week for half term.

The changes in the government's Deregulation Bill will pave the way for all individual schools to change the timing and duration of terms and holidays from 2015. Academies and free schools already have this power.

The letter said: “In light of the changes by the Government to holidays in school time and the many requests we have from parents to take children out of school to visit relations overseas, the governors have decided to review the school holiday pattern 2014-2015.

“In October 2014 the school will close for two weeks from October 20 until October 31, instead of the usual one week closure. “The five days will be made up at the beginning of the school year and we will of course, have to comply with the regulatory school openings.

“We are giving all parents as much notice as possible to book flights. The governors have decided that this will be a trial for one year initially and we would welcome feedback from parents in the future.”

One parent, who asked not to be named, said October was the best time of year to visit relations in Pakistan due to more reasonable temperatures.

The latest available Ofsted figures from 2006 showed the school had a high level — 85 per cent — of ethnic minority pupils who did not speak English as a first language.

There are 304 children on roll, predominantly of Asian heritage.

One union leader said piecemeal changes at individual schools would cause ‘chaos’.

Blackburn with Darwen NUT representative Simon Jones said: “People may teach at one school, their kids go to another and their partner may teach at a third, so their holidays need to match.

“Siblings also often go to different schools. It causes so much family disruption.

“What is needed is a co-ordinated overall plan for term times, which isn’t trendy but it is true.”

Comments

But if they are going abroad for two weeks, who will pick the taties, on tatie picking week?

But if they are going abroad for two weeks, who will pick the taties, on tatie picking week?woolywords

But if they are going abroad for two weeks, who will pick the taties, on tatie picking week?

Score: 0

Lancs - pensioner
8:35pm Fri 3 Jan 14

mrcool wrote…

let the racist comments begin......

So if you object to a change which is obviously just to suit Asians your a Racist? Says it all about how our country, it is being taken over by the Asians!!!!
I personally just object because it's another step towards a Muslim state!!

[quote][p][bold]mrcool[/bold] wrote:
let the racist comments begin......[/p][/quote]So if you object to a change which is obviously just to suit Asians your a Racist? Says it all about how our country, it is being taken over by the Asians!!!!
I personally just object because it's another step towards a Muslim state!!Lancs - pensioner

mrcool wrote…

let the racist comments begin......

So if you object to a change which is obviously just to suit Asians your a Racist? Says it all about how our country, it is being taken over by the Asians!!!!
I personally just object because it's another step towards a Muslim state!!

Score: 26

mrdd186
9:42pm Fri 3 Jan 14

mrcool wrote…

let the racist comments begin......

come on mrcool, for years parents have been trying to get schools to change holiday times, this does look like one rule for one and another rule for the others.

[quote][p][bold]mrcool[/bold] wrote:
let the racist comments begin......[/p][/quote]come on mrcool, for years parents have been trying to get schools to change holiday times, this does look like one rule for one and another rule for the others.mrdd186

mrcool wrote…

let the racist comments begin......

come on mrcool, for years parents have been trying to get schools to change holiday times, this does look like one rule for one and another rule for the others.

Score: 22

AnimalReid
11:12pm Fri 3 Jan 14

Think you got that wrong LET- 85% of the pupils dont speak English as a first language???
...
If that was the case I would pity the 15%!

Think you got that wrong LET- 85% of the pupils dont speak English as a first language???
...
If that was the case I would pity the 15%!AnimalReid

Think you got that wrong LET- 85% of the pupils dont speak English as a first language???
...
If that was the case I would pity the 15%!

Score: 16

Sajdin
12:01pm Sat 4 Jan 14

Lancs - pensioner wrote…

mrcool wrote…

let the racist comments begin......

So if you object to a change which is obviously just to suit Asians your a Racist? Says it all about how our country, it is being taken over by the Asians!!!!
I personally just object because it's another step towards a Muslim state!!

In essence you are right, this change is to suit Asians, no doubt about it, and the comment about the weather being better in October in Pakistan is right.

Whilst I see the reasons behind the change, until this school was 100% ethnic minority from the Pakistani community, then it had no right to make this change. I feel sorry for the 15% who go there.....

I guess the Governors made this decision, and Governors are made up of Parents and Community figures, all probably Asian??

I can now understand why the white community feels like the way you do!

[quote][p][bold]Lancs - pensioner[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]mrcool[/bold] wrote:
let the racist comments begin......[/p][/quote]So if you object to a change which is obviously just to suit Asians your a Racist? Says it all about how our country, it is being taken over by the Asians!!!!
I personally just object because it's another step towards a Muslim state!![/p][/quote]In essence you are right, this change is to suit Asians, no doubt about it, and the comment about the weather being better in October in Pakistan is right.
Whilst I see the reasons behind the change, until this school was 100% ethnic minority from the Pakistani community, then it had no right to make this change. I feel sorry for the 15% who go there.....
I guess the Governors made this decision, and Governors are made up of Parents and Community figures, all probably Asian??
I can now understand why the white community feels like the way you do!Sajdin

Lancs - pensioner wrote…

mrcool wrote…

let the racist comments begin......

So if you object to a change which is obviously just to suit Asians your a Racist? Says it all about how our country, it is being taken over by the Asians!!!!
I personally just object because it's another step towards a Muslim state!!

In essence you are right, this change is to suit Asians, no doubt about it, and the comment about the weather being better in October in Pakistan is right.

Whilst I see the reasons behind the change, until this school was 100% ethnic minority from the Pakistani community, then it had no right to make this change. I feel sorry for the 15% who go there.....

I guess the Governors made this decision, and Governors are made up of Parents and Community figures, all probably Asian??

I can now understand why the white community feels like the way you do!

Score: 17

leyton
2:03pm Sat 4 Jan 14

what a surprise

what a surpriseleyton

what a surprise

Score: 9

phil kernot
2:20pm Sat 4 Jan 14

So I could take my daughter out of school to suit my holidays , as I don't like it to hot too ,,

So I could take my daughter out of school to suit my holidays , as I don't like it to hot too ,,phil kernot

So I could take my daughter out of school to suit my holidays , as I don't like it to hot too ,,

[quote][p][bold]Biscay[/bold] wrote:
The Islamification of Great Britain - continues - drip, drip, drip.[/p][/quote]I wouldnt go that far! Islam has nothing to do with this!Sajdin

Biscay wrote…

The Islamification of Great Britain - continues - drip, drip, drip.

I wouldnt go that far! Islam has nothing to do with this!

Score: -8

shirtbox2003
11:50pm Sat 4 Jan 14

beware the enemy within.

beware the enemy within.shirtbox2003

beware the enemy within.

Score: 8

Mother
1:10pm Sun 5 Jan 14

mrdd186 wrote…

mrcool wrote…

let the racist comments begin......

come on mrcool, for years parents have been trying to get schools to change holiday times, this does look like one rule for one and another rule for the others.

This school is now an academy. They no longer have to follow the LA`s holidays. I actually think it's not a bad idea.

They should have agreed to it because the majority want it not because it's cooler in Pakistan in October. It is just as cool in December. Also older siblings that attend high school won't be able to go join them on holiday.

On the negative side this causes problems for the staff with kids as their own children will have different holidays to them.

[quote][p][bold]mrdd186[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]mrcool[/bold] wrote:
let the racist comments begin......[/p][/quote]come on mrcool, for years parents have been trying to get schools to change holiday times, this does look like one rule for one and another rule for the others.[/p][/quote]This school is now an academy. They no longer have to follow the LA`s holidays. I actually think it's not a bad idea.
They should have agreed to it because the majority want it not because it's cooler in Pakistan in October. It is just as cool in December. Also older siblings that attend high school won't be able to go join them on holiday.
On the negative side this causes problems for the staff with kids as their own children will have different holidays to them.Mother

mrdd186 wrote…

mrcool wrote…

let the racist comments begin......

come on mrcool, for years parents have been trying to get schools to change holiday times, this does look like one rule for one and another rule for the others.

This school is now an academy. They no longer have to follow the LA`s holidays. I actually think it's not a bad idea.

They should have agreed to it because the majority want it not because it's cooler in Pakistan in October. It is just as cool in December. Also older siblings that attend high school won't be able to go join them on holiday.

On the negative side this causes problems for the staff with kids as their own children will have different holidays to them.

Score: -3

Lancs - pensioner
4:02pm Sun 5 Jan 14

Sajdin wrote…

Biscay wrote…

The Islamification of Great Britain - continues - drip, drip, drip.

I wouldnt go that far! Islam has nothing to do with this!

Your right Saj, my comments where in the heat of the moment as well but this is what happens when we see what's constantly going on in our town,

[quote][p][bold]Sajdin[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Biscay[/bold] wrote:
The Islamification of Great Britain - continues - drip, drip, drip.[/p][/quote]I wouldnt go that far! Islam has nothing to do with this![/p][/quote]Your right Saj, my comments where in the heat of the moment as well but this is what happens when we see what's constantly going on in our town,Lancs - pensioner

Sajdin wrote…

Biscay wrote…

The Islamification of Great Britain - continues - drip, drip, drip.

I wouldnt go that far! Islam has nothing to do with this!

Your right Saj, my comments where in the heat of the moment as well but this is what happens when we see what's constantly going on in our town,

Score: 4

timeforcommonsense
7:32pm Mon 6 Jan 14

The fact that you back down and withdraw your comments says more about this country and why we're within 15-20 years off a flashpoint, as in Egypt. Though your reaction says it will pass peacefully as apathy will suppression any feelings of injustice and anger at the country finally being 'converted'.

The fact that you back down and withdraw your comments says more about this country and why we're within 15-20 years off a flashpoint, as in Egypt. Though your reaction says it will pass peacefully as apathy will suppression any feelings of injustice and anger at the country finally being 'converted'.timeforcommonsense

The fact that you back down and withdraw your comments says more about this country and why we're within 15-20 years off a flashpoint, as in Egypt. Though your reaction says it will pass peacefully as apathy will suppression any feelings of injustice and anger at the country finally being 'converted'.

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